Senior center Alex Bernauer and junior guard Mo Abdulrasul provided the firepower, as Fremont won a pair of close contests last week to keep pace with the leaders in the El Camino Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League.

Abdulrasul scored 23 points and Bernauer 22, leading the Firebirds to a 67-65 win over visiting Gunn on Jan. 22. Two nights later they scored 18 apiece in a 45-44 win at Monta Vista. Sophomore Jake Burris added 14, including seven free throws and a three-pointer, in the win over Gunn.

The wins improved Fremont's record to 4-1 in El Camino play, third behind Wilcox (5-0) and Santa Clara (5-1). Monta Vista and Gunn were tied for fourth at 2-3.

Cupertino and Lynbrook were both 0-5 and looking for their first division win when they met on Jan. 29. Meanwhile, Fremont was playing at home against Wilcox, trying to hand the Chargers their first division loss of the season and Monta Vista was at Gunn.

On Jan. 31, the second round of play begins. Fremont travels to Santa Clara, looking to avenge a loss to the Bruins, while Monta Vista visits Wilcox.

Monta Vista received 16 points from senior Aditya Raju and 15 from senior Ramana Keerthi in its one-point loss to Fremont.

The Matadors were coming off a 50-36 win over Lynbrook. Keerthi had 20 and Raju 12 in that one, while juniors Victor Yu and Varun Parthasarathy scored eight each for the Vikings.

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Cupertino's only game of the week was a 71-52 home defeat against Santa Clara. Sophomores Ajaypal Singh (11 points) and Ethan Shen (10) paced the Pioneers.

Mustangs drop pair

In the De Anza Division, Homestead lost twice despite two more big scoring games from senior guard Troy Whitford.

Two nights later, Whitford pumped in 26 at home against division leader Los Altos (5-0), but the Eagles scored a 53-43 victory.

Homestead slipped to 3-2 in the division and 11-6 overall, heading into a Jan. 29 game at Palo Alto (3-2). The Mustangs will host Mountain View (2-3) on Jan. 31, 7:45 p.m.

In the West Bay Athletic League, Ryan White scored 14 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to lead The King's Academy to a 61-56 win over Woodside Priory. Zach Hansen had 12 points for the Knights, who improved to 2-4 in league and 11-5 overall.

Lynbrook falls

The Lynbrook girls split a pair of De Anza Division games last week, topping Mountain View at home 62-52 but losing on the road to rival Wilcox 55-44.

The Chargers stayed unbeaten in league play at 5-0, while Lynbrook dropped to 3-2.

Lynbrook and Wilcox both played hard-nosed defense and it was a two-point game at halftime, the Vikings down 30-28. But Wilcox stretched the lead in the third quarter with an 11-3 run and held on in the fourth.

Annie Cheng scored 13 and Paige Song 12 for Lynbrook, while big center Joeseta Fatuesi had a game high 18 for Wilcox.

In the Mountain View contest, Cheng scored 16, center Sara Dyslin and Song 13 each and Renee Huang 10 for Lynbrook.

In the El Camino Division, Monta Vista lost an early season showdown with Los Altos, 42-25, but bounced back to dump Fremont 57-48. Stephanie Jennings scored 16 in the win, helping lift the Matadors to 4-1 in the division and 10-7 overall.

Homestead dropped a pair of games, falling to 1-4. The Mustangs dropped a tough decision to Santa Clara, 51-40, on Jan. 21.